The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 17, 19?82, PAGE 11 Numberon welfarejumps 17% iione month, Between December 1981 and January 1982 the number of people on Durham Region's ýwel- fare roil lias increased by 17.7 per cent. According to figures released by the region's social services depart- ment, there were 5,581 people receiving gener- ai welfare assistance in December. In January, this number leaped to 6,184. Departm.ept staff have attributed most of* this mncreasè, to varioùs plant lay-offs. The staff 'have ýalso corne under a heavy strain as has the region's.welfare budget. According to social services commissioner Doug Johns, "the average caseloads of the workers increased 17.3 per cent in January over Deemiber and 17.2 per cent over january, These figures have prompted the social ser- vices committee to re- consider its position on the proposedý amend- ments to the federal government's Unemn- ployment Insurance The major amen- dment wiI increase the qualifying period for unemployment insur- ance dlaims from 10 to 15 weeks for repeating claimants.' On Deceniber 9, regional council defeat- ed a motion that would have endorsed a resolu- tion from the County of Essex which called bn the federal govermnent *not to increase the wait- ing period If thé arriendment is enacted,' *Johns -fears that'the burden. on the Durham- taxpayerý would increase because of the greater number of people that would be seeking welfare. In, a report to. the committee, Johns said, ".... when unemploy- ment benefits expire or Council denies grant to farmers', Witby Town Council has decided not to give a $250 grant to the Durham Region Feder- ation of Agriculture. Councillors spent about 40 minutes debat- ing tlie.*issue. at, their meeting last week-and finally decided to reject the request on a 4 to 3 recorded vote. The opposition was led by West Ward Coun- cillor Joe Bugelli who pointed out that it lias been the town's policy not, to accept new grant applications. "We've liad a firm .policy," he said, "The town should not get into the grant business." Bugelli also. pointed out that the federation is in a "strong cash posi- A similar position was brouglit forward by East Ward Councillor Joe Drumm. "I1 sincerely believe that we sliould stay within our budget." Regional Councillor- Tom Edwards argued in favor of the grant say- ing, "'Unless you've had your head buried in the sand in the last six or seven montlis, you will federation know tliat the farmers aren't liaving an easy' time." In a letter to council, federation president- Lawrence MeLaughlin described his. as a "igrassroots organiza- tion"' witli 650 members. "We act as a lobbying group for ail farmers with' municipal, provin- cial and federal govern- ments," lie added. "If a member, or farmer, lias a problemn and contacts a director in bis munici- pality, we endeavour to advise the farmer the steps that they sliould take to solve their pro- blem, large or small." McLaughlin said that through the Ontario Feý- deration of Agriculture, farmers can make use of many experienced people including. legal counsel. 1The provincial organi- zation also bas a farm machinery agency that supplies parts, tools, motors and other items at a discount. The group also.sup- ports 4-H Clubs througli- out the region. While this is the first time they have asked for money froni Whitby, grants have been re- ceived froni other muni- cipalities in the, region including Newcastle, Oshawa, Scugog, Brock, Uxbridge and Pick- ering. Northi Ward Coun- ,.cillor Ross Batten told councîl that farming is just one of 'Whitby's in- dustries. "This particular organization does repre- sent a particular indus- try in thistown," lie said adding "it is not going to make or break us." Regional Counicillor Gerry Emm said that it was iprtant "«to keep thémi good financial position." Bugelli countered these arguments say- ing, "I 'm suggesting that we have a firmn policy, let's stick with the policy.") Côuncil did stick with thepolicy with Bugelli, Drumm, Centre Ward Councillor Barry Evans and Mayor, Bob Atter- sley voting 'not to, give the grant. Edwards, Emm and Batten, voted in favor of it. wheh. they cannot be granted, destitute claimants have. no choice but'to apply, to the 'port of last resort', your general assistance division. "Notwithstanding the apparent, insignificant' difference between 10 weeks and 15 weeks of employmfent in order to requallfy for benefit, it -must be clearly under- stood that the fiveweeks of- addition:4 contribut- ing, employmenit repre- sents a 50 per cent in- crease in the essential work history, a goal which simply cannot be attained by some of those claimants, parti- cularly during periods of higli unemployment and low seasonal job opportunities. " 1Whitby' Regional Councillor Tom Ed- wards told the'-commit- tee that lie knew 0f one woman who worked at, Firestone Canada for 15 years. After tlie plant closed down, she went to work -for Chrysler but was laid off again after 17 weeks. Because of that, she was declared ineligible for unemploy- ment insurance and is currently on welfare. "This sort of, thing is -a particular probl em here, witli General Motors',and Chrysler la'ying 'off :people-.-and rehiring tlierrj for short periods of time,",Ed- wards told his collea- gues. *t'That type of t hing is happening frequently." If, the amendments become law, potential claimants must bye 20 claimants must have 20 weeks of insurable ear- nings, Without whicli they will be forced onito the municipal welfare role. "They'll have no where else to go, " Ed- wards said. Johins pointed out that tlie property taxpayer only pays 20 per cent of tlie welfare roll, how- ever, they do not have t'o. contribute to the unem- ployment insurance scheme. If the amendments, Johins said, "merely. transfer a greater bur- den to the municipality in the form of increasedý, -general welfare assist- ance demands, it is ob- vious, that, regardless of the number involved, our local taxpayers will. be required to pay 20 per cent of the. additional costs, a burden which they do not, currently,* have to bear. The comm issi oner also predicts that the cost to the. taxpayer could reach into the six- figure bracket. "Sliould the strained economie climate con- tinue, with anequally strained job market, it would not be unreason- able to suggest that our gross costs could, con- ceivably, rise to the hun- dred thousand dollar level."1 While tlie, original Essex motion was 'Ire- ceived and filed", the social service commit- tee hopes to get regional council to change its mind at its meeting today._ Savings apply to cabl to Toronto y ou dial yourself without operator assistance. The minimum charge for this service is $5.60 per month for residence customers and $13.75 for business customers even if the total charges for these cail are less than that. The se charges will be included with your regular monthly rate, which is billed in'advance. Call your Bell Canada Business Office, 433 -3391, for fullidetails. *Service available only to people with telephone numbers beginning with 666 or 668. GOT TAX REFU.ND PLANS? 85 percent of your calculated tax refund paid - fast. Return compared at no extra cost. BENEFICIAL TAX REFUND BUYING CENTRE 39 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa 433-4771 'À ,1 i i I i I t i i i i 4 I. N. .j~\ ~